Circulating tobacco curer



June 26, 1956 F, B. STEVENS CIRCULATING TOBACCO CURER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 22, 1953 I w 8 6 5 4 I 1 fi all a. LT a .2 4 A I l0 2 v A 8 2 6 2/ M. I J 1 a, P in .N

QQQQQQQQ G QQQQQQ United States Patent C) CIRCULATING TfiBACCO CURER Flay B. Stevens and Moses W. Williams, Lumberton, N. C.

Application October 22, 1953, Serial No. 387,620

Claims. (Cl. 237-53) This invention relates generally to tobacco curing and pertains more particularly to an improved form of tobacco curer.

A prirnary object of this invention is to provide an improved tobacco curing system which materially reduces the time and fuel required for curing tobacco and which produces a more uniform and desirable curing of the tobacco, rendering the same more valuable.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved form of tobacco curer which eliminates any fumes from the interior of the tobacco barn, obviating contamination of the tobacco.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved tobacco curer which utilizes a closed firebox and an outer housing providing an air chamber therebetween, air being forced through the housing, and around and through the firebox for obtaining the most eflicient transfer from the burner.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through a tobacco barn showing the tobacco curing system in position therein;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the main body portion of the tobacco curer;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken substantially along the plane of section line 3-3 in Figure 2 showing details of construction on enlarged scale;

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially along the plane of section line 4-4 in Figure 4 showing further details of construction;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the plane of section line 5-5 in Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is another horizontal section taken substantially along the plane of section line 6-6 in Figure 3.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, the tobacco curer proper is indicated generally by the reference character it) and is adapted to be placed in a tobacco barn, the same being indicated generally by the reference character 12 and which includes the usual vertical post members 14 and horizontal or rail members 16 upon which the tobacco sticks are strung, as indicated generally by the reference character 18. The tobacco curing system of the present invention contemplates the use of an air inlet conduit which includes an upper section 20 adapted to be placed and supported in the peak of a barn and which is provided with a series of air inlet openings or apertures 22 in the manner shown. A riser section 24 connects with the section 20 at its upper end and its lower end is connected to a further section 26 in which a blower 28 is interposed for producing forced circulation of the air. The blower is, of course, provided with any suitable motive power means 30, that illustrated being in the form of an electric motor with a belt and pulley drive to the blower, although it is to be understood that any convenient and practical form of power system for the blower may be utilized.

At the top of the curer housing are provided a series of circumferentially spaced openings from which a series of radially extending pipes or conduits extend to various desired points in the tobacco curing barn, these pipes being extended to such points as will produce a most effective distribution of heated air throughout the entire barn.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 3, it will be seen that the outer encompasses the use of a housing or outer casing 34 of generally rectangular configuration within which a firebox indicated generally by the reference character 36 is disposed. The bottom 38, end walls 49 and opposed side walls of the firebox are spaced from corresponding portions of the outer casing such that an air chamber is formed between the firebox and the outer casing, and it will be further noted that the bottom of the casing is provided with an opening 42 with which the inlet conduit section 26 connects. The bottom wallvof the outer casing may be extended, as indicated by the reference character 44, to provide a convenient platform for the oil burner or other suitable burner assembly, indicated generally by the reference character 46. As stated, the burner assembly may take any convenient form, but it is preferred that the same employs the principle of forced fuel feed for projecting the flame front within the interior of the firebox. The interior of the firebox is provided with a reflector wall of generally U-shaped construction which is provided with the spaced legs 48 and the bight portion 58 with the open end of the legs facing the opening in the firebox with which the barrel 52 of the burner assembly communicates. The opposite side wall of the firebox is provided with an opening communicating with a flue section 54 which may lead to a suitable chimney member 56, as desired.

A horizontal enlarged tube member 58 extends between the opposite end walls 40 of the firebox, and the uppermost portion of the free ends thereof projects outwardly beyond these walls, as indicated by the reference character 60and as seen most clearly in Figure 3, the purpose of these projections being to provide air scoops in a manner which will be presently apparent. Short vertical tubes 62 extend from this horizontal tube 6t upwardly therefrom and out the top of the firebox in the manner shown such that air entering the air chamber between the firebox and the outer casing will be scooped into the horizontal tube by the projections 60 and forced up through the vertical tube 62 and into the top portion of the casing and outwardly through the outlet lines 32, thus effecting a very eflicient transfer of heat from the firebox assembly. Also, the long vertical tubes 64 are disposed between the top and bottom of the firebox and communicate at opposite ends thereof With the air chamber between the outer casing and the firebox such that air entering through the conduit 26 is forced upwardly through the vertical pipes as well as around the firebox to effect a maximum of air heating with a minimum of heat loss, as will be readily apparent. These latter tubes 64 are provided in a pair of banks indicated generally by the reference characters 66 and 68, the banks being disposed closely adjacent to and between the opposite legs 48 of the reflector wall assemblies, as will be seen most clearly in Figure 5. This will effect the most eflicient heat transfer inasmuch as the flame front entering through the burner barrel 52 will be directed to the rear of the reflector wall or the bight portion 50 to divide at that point and extend around by the legs 48 on the inner side thereof and thence on the outer side thereof to the rear and out the flue 54. Thus, the reflector wall not only acts to provide a tortuous path for the burning fuel, but also serves to accurately direct the same against the long vertical tubes 64 and also to direct the flame front closely adjacent the Walls of the firebox such that efiicient heat transfer will be efiected between the walls of the firebox and the air within the air chambfil';

It will also be noted that directing flange members 70 are disposed in convergent relation on the opposite end walls 40 of the firebox, and that these flanges merge with the previously mentioned projections 60 on the-horizontal tube 58 serving to efiectively direct the air into this horizontal tube, see most particularly Figure 4.

The top of the assembly may be provided with a protective screen member 72 to prevent tobacco leaves from fallingon the top of the burner assembly and possibly igniting thereon. Also, an inspection hole may be provided in the firebox and an inspection tube 74 associated therewith such that the conditions within the burner may be observed.

As seen most clearly in Figures 1 and 4, a water line 76 leads to the curer and projects through one wall thereof to terminate in a spray nozzle 78. Any suitable valv-' ing mechanism may be employed with the water line to control the flow of water from the nozzle. The purpose of this construction is to introduce very moist air into the tobacco barn after the tobacco has been cured. This restores enough moisture to the tobacco so that it may be handled without crumbling.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood, and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may beresorted to, falling withing the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A tobacco curer comprising a housing having a bottom opening for the admission of cool air and top openings for the discharge of heated air, a firebox disposed within said housing and presenting an air chamber therearound with which the top and bottom openings communicate, an enlarged horizontal tube disposed between opposite sides of said firebox and communicating at opposite ends with said air chamber, vertical tubes extending from the horizontal tube through the top of said firebox, the upper portions of the opposed ends of said horizontal tube projecting beyond the corresponding sides of the firebox and upwardly converging flanges on the sides of the firebox merging with the projecting upper end portions of said horizontal tube.

2. A tobacco curer comprising a housing having a bottom opening for the admission of cool air and top openings for the discharge of heated air, a firebox disposed within said housing and presenting an air chamber therearound with which the top and bottom openings communicate, an enlarged horizontal tube disposed between opposite sides of said firebox and communicating at opposite ends with said air chamber, vertical tubes extending from the horizontal tube through the top of said firebox, the upper. portions of the opposed ends of said horizontal tube projecting beyond the corresponding sides of the firebox, upwardly converging flanges on the sides of the firebox merging with the projecting upper end portions of said horizontal tube, and said firebox having banks of vertical tubes disposed on either side of said horizontal tube and communicating at opposite ends with said air chamber.

3. A tobacco curer comprising a housing having a bottom opening for the admission of cool air and top openings for the discharge of heated air, a firebox disposed within said housing and presenting an air chamber therearound with which the top and bottom openings communicate, said firebox having banks of vertical tubes passing therethrough and. communicating at the top and bottom with said air chamber, said firebox having a fuel inlet, a generlaly U-shaped reflector wall disposed within said firebox with the open end of its legs facing said fuel inlet, said banks of tubes being disposed adjacent and between the legs of said reflector wall.

4. A tobacco curer comprising a housing having a bottom opening for the admission of cool air and top openings for the discharge of heated air, a firebox disposed within said housing and presenting an air chamber therearound with which the top and bottom openings communicate, an enlarged horizontal tube disposed between opposite sides of said firebox and communicating at opposite ends with said air chamber, vertical tubes extending from the horizontal tube through the top of said firebox, the upper portions of the opposed ends of said horizontal tube projecting beyond the corresponding sides of the firebox, and said firebox having banks of vertical tubes disposed on either side of said horizontal tube and communicating at opposite ends with said air chamber, said firebox having a force feed fuel inlet, a generally U-shaped reflector wall disposed within said firebox with the open end of its legs facing said'fuel inlet, said banks of tubes being disposed adjacent and between the legs of said reflector wall.

5. In a tobacco curing system for tobacco barns, a housing having a bottom opening and top openings, an inlet conduit including a section adapted to be disposed at the peak of a barn and provided with longitudinally spaced inlet apertures and a section connected to the bottom opening of said housing, the latter section having a blower therein, a firebox disposed within said housing and resenting an air chamber therearound with which the top and bottom openings communicate, an enlarged horizontal tube disposed between opposite sides of said firebox and communicating at opposite ends with said air chamber, vertical tubes extending from the horizontal tube through the top of said firebox, the upper portions of the opposite ends of said horizontal tube projecting beyond the corresponding sides of the firebox, and said firebox having banks of vertical tubes disposed on either side of said horizontal tube and comrnunicating at opposite ends with said air chamber, said firebox having a force feed fuel inlet, a generally U-shaped reflector wall disposed within said firebox with the open end of its legs facing said fuel inlet, said banks of tubes being disposed adjacent and between the legs of said reflector wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Jones Feb. 24, 1953 

